Cover for electric service outlets



June 1950 c. R. KILGORE 2,510,745

COVER FOR ELEf/JTRIC SERVICE OUTLETS Filed Nov. 15, 1945 65! A [ff/gore INVENTOR.

Patented June 6, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COVER FOR ELECTRIC SERVICE OUTLETS Charles R. Kilgore, Fort Worth, Tex.

Application November 15, 1945, Serial No. 628,939

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to wall service outlets in electrical circuits and it has particular reference to a housing or cover for wall receptacles in which service plugs for appliances are installed, and its principal object resides in the provision of a cover having suitable depth to house conventional plugs yet compact and attractive in appearance and capable of ready removal as desired.

An object of the invention is that of providing a simple arrangement capable of being easily installed by any person of reasonable skill in any conventional service outlet by simply removing the face plate, usually secured by one or more screws, and placing a supporting frame therebehind and attaching the cover.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a safety device whereby appliance plugs, such as lighting fixtures, electric fans, irons, and the like, cannot be accidentally dislodged, or incompetent persons, such as children, cannot contact the plugs and suffer possible injury or impair the electrical circuits by causing short-circuits, or the like.

Broadly, the invention seeks to comprehend the provision of a wall receptacle cover which is preferably transparent whereby the plugs installed in the said receptacle are visible yet protected against dislocation by the movement of persons about the room or the movement of articles of furniture, or other objects, by which the plugs may become loosened or disconnected.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the appended drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the invention installed about a receptacle showing a service plug housed therein.

Figure 2 illustrates the invention in vertical cross-section, taken on lines 22 of Figure 1, and showing the supporting and releasable members for the cover.

Figure 3 is an inverted plan view of the invention illustrating the latch release button.

Figure 4 is a perspective illustration of a service receptacle showing the cover supporting frame installed behind the plate and illustrating the cover supporting and latching devices, and

Figure 5 illustrates, in perspective, a modification of the frame employed in horizontally positioned receptacles.

Accordingly, therefore, the invention comprises a cover 10, preferably of a transparent material, such as Plexiglas, or the like, and which has sufficient depth to suitably house one or more service plugs l I installed in the receptacle l2, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. It is contemplated that outlet openings l3 for the plug wires, or cords [4, may be provided on either side. The cover I0 is preferably rectangular in form and has tapered sides and rounded corners and edges to present the minimum projection from the wall and be attractive in appearance.

The cover In is supported about the face plate I 5 of the receptacle l2 by a frame 16 which is preferably rectangular in form, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, and has one or more intergal laterally extending brackets I'! at its upper edge and a tensioned integral latch member l8 at its lower edge. The members I! and I8 are arranged to engage the plate It at its top and bottom edges when installed in either vertical or horizontal positions, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The frame I6 has a greater outside dimension than the plate I5 and extends beyond its edges, as illustrated particularly in Figure 4, but its internal dimensions are such as to provide for the engagement of the edges of the plate [5 with a suitable surface to insure rigidity of the frame l6 when installed.

The frame I6 is preferably die stamped and formed from a relatively thin but durable metal so as to minimize space yet provide sufficient tension in the latching member [8 to properly retain the cover It in position. The upper bracket I1 is formed with an upturned portion a which is adapted to enter a recess 2) in the upper inner wall 0 of the cover IE3, as illustrated in Figure 2, whereby the cover It is supported. Another recess d is provided in the lower inner wall of the cover l0 which is engaged by the rib I9 formed in the latch l8, also shown in Figure 2.

When the cover ID is installed the upper end is placed over the bracket I! so that the member a engages the recess b and is pressed inwardly against the tensioned latch [8 which springs upwardly until the recess d receives the rib I9 thus latching the cover I0 and securing it against removal until the latch I8 is raised by pressure upon the release button 20 which operates through the bottom of the cover H], as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The operation of the latch l8 by the button 20 is shown in Figure 2 in dotted lines.

In Figure 5 is shown a modification of the frame l6 which has the supporting brackets l1 arranged along one of its longitudinal edges and the latch l8 in its opposite edge. Many outlet receptacles are installed in horizontal positions and it is contemplated that the invention be equally as useing a face plate-,.thereon, a, rectangular frame 10 adapted to be secured by said face plate and formed with yieldable brackets projecting therefrom for attaching said cover over said face plate; a substantially rectangular cover haying'indentaa tions formed in each end engageable with said 15 yieldable brackets and being detachably supported thereon, a tensioned latch memberfor-medon said frame opposite said brackets yieldably latching said cover to said frame, and means inathe bottom of said cover for releasing the same from said 20 latch, 2.. Ima-Iatch-omcover for electricalservice outlets, inscombinaticn, with. :a service plug .receptae ole having a face plate thereon, a rectangular frame supported behind said face plate and having supporting brackets for a cover projecting therefrom :a latch formed on the lower portion of said frame opposite said brackets, a substantially box-like cover for said receptacle and plate supported by said brackets and releasably secured by said latch, and means in the bottom of said cover for releasing the same from said latch.

CHARLES R. KILGORE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the filei of. this xpatentt;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 117752768 Kenerson Sept. 16, 1930 2,119;319r DEsopo May 31, 1938 2,157,957 Heise et al' May 9, 1939 2,211,818 Innis Aug. 20; 1940 2,345,982 Manchan' Apr. 4,1944 

